Open Source Community : VIT-AP

What Open Source Community : VIT-AP does

Kennards Hire is Australia's largest family-owned equipment hire company, founded in Bathurst, New South Wales in 1948 and operated continuously by the Kennard family. The business operates 220+ branches across Australia and New Zealand with 2,000+ team members, renting more than 100,000 products spanning power tools, earthmoving equipment, access platforms, pumps, generators (including hydrogen-fueled units), traffic management systems, rail threaders, and specialized lifting and concrete-care solutions. Customer segments include commercial construction, trade professionals, rail contractors, mining operators, energy projects, government and emergency services, and DIY consumers. Revenue is generated primarily through time-based usage rentals (hourly, daily, weekly), supplemented by 30-day credit-account invoicing for commercial customers, optional damage and vehicle waivers, and dedicated project management services for major infrastructure jobs. The company has no disclosed institutional shareholders and is funded through family ownership and operating cash flow.

The technology stack is operational rather than data-intensive: GPS-enabled telemetry on hire equipment for geolocation, speed, battery voltage, and ignition monitoring; a public-facing booking portal with real-time availability across 200+ locations; and an Account Portal that delivers credit-account customers custom pricing, online ordering, invoicing, reporting, and team management. Distribution is omnichannel, combining the physical branch network, online self-service, phone reservations, dedicated enterprise account managers, and on-site project management. Recent strategic emphasis has been on sustainability (hydrogen generator trial with John Holland and Sydney Water), accessibility (Sound Sensitivity Stations at Eden Park, Forsyth Barr Stadium, and Tamworth Festival), and digital self-service for trade and SMB customers.

The commercial model is a classic asset-heavy rental: fleet utilization, average hire duration, and branch density drive returns, while the family-ownership structure and 75-year operating history support long-tenured trade-account relationships and brand trust. The Kennards Hire Foundation, established in 2018, formalizes philanthropic activity through 16 non-profit partnerships, and rail-industry memberships (RTAA, ARA) underpin compliance for specialized rail equipment hires. No external capital, M&A activity, or institutional investment is disclosed in the source material.

Name

Open Source Community : VIT-AP

Legal name

Kennards Hire

Website

https://oscvitap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kennards Hire is Australia's largest family-owned equipment hire company, founded in 1948 and operating 220+ branches across Australia and New Zealand with 2,000+ staff. It rents 100,000+ products across construction, rail, mining, energy, and DIY segments via branches, online portals, and dedicated project management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equipment Rental Services

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks) (TLABAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Power & Energy Equipment Rental/Leasing (Generators, Light Towers, Compressors) (TLABAFAG), Surface Preparation & Compaction Equipment Rental/Leasing (Compactors, Rollers, Grinders) (TLABAFAJ), Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN)

Keywords

• Equipment rental services
• Construction equipment hire
• Industrial equipment leasing
• Trade equipment hire
• Project management solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Bathurst

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rental: Core revenue stream from hiring equipment including power tools, earthmoving equipment, access equipment, pumps, generators, traffic equipment, and specialized industrial equipment. Charges based on hire duration (hourly, daily, weekly rates) with self-selecting rate system.
2. Project Management Services: Dedicated on-site project management services for major commercial projects, providing single point of contact for equipment expertise and total solutions across the national network.
3. Commercial Account Services: 30-day account invoicing for regular customers, with custom trade account rates, credit limits, and online account management. Additional waiver options (Vehicle Waiver Plus, Equipment Waiver Plus) available as optional extras.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Equipment hire and rental services offering over 100,000 products across 220+ branches in Australia and New Zealand. Core business spans power tools, earthmoving equipment, access equipment, pumps, generators (up to 1250kVA), traffic management, and specialised industrial equipment. Supported by dedicated on-site Project Management for commercial customers and the TRADE EASY benefits program for trade professionals.

Product overview

Kennards Hire is Australia and New Zealand's largest family-owned equipment hire company offering a comprehensive equipment rental platform. The core offering includes over 100,000 equipment products from trusted brands, supported by the TRADE EASY trade customer program and Account Portal online services. The company provides specialized solutions across Power, Traffic, Site Solutions, Access, Concrete Care, Lifting Solutions, Test and Measure, Pump, and Earthmoving categories. Additional services include dedicated Project Management support, Credit Account facilities, and After Hours Returns options. With 220+ branches across Australia and New Zealand, the company serves construction, infrastructure, mining, energy, rail, and emergency services sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trade Easy: Exclusive hire benefits program for Trade customers including streamlined hiring processes and dedicated trade-focused services.
• Kennards Hire Foundation

Products and services

• Equipment Hire

Quantifiable outcome

• 36% of construction businesses rent more equipment from hire companies than previous year
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tamworth Regional CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Local government partnership to bring Sound Sensitivity Stations to Tamworth Country Music Festival for first time in Australia, making the event more accessible for neurodivergent attendees.
• SpringboardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 August 2025Non-profit charity dedicated to uplifting disadvantaged youth in New Zealand. Partnership since 2018. 49 young people completed A Mua Ake Employment Preparation program in FY24 with 54% finding employment or further training. Kennards Hire Foundation funds programs while employees volunteer and mentor.
• North Harbour Rugby UnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 August 2025Sports venue partnership hosting community events for Springboard youth program. North Harbour Rugby hosts Springboard team at VIP seats during NPC matches to provide positive role models and experiences for disadvantaged youth.
• Forsyth Barr StadiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2025South Island's first Sound Sensitivity Station installation at Dunedin stadium for sensory-inclusive events. Partnership extends accessibility initiatives from Eden Park to additional major venues across New Zealand.
• Eden ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Icon Partnership with New Zealand's largest stadium. Launched Sound Sensitivity Stations - first of their kind at a major NZ venue - dispensing free earplugs for sound-sensitive attendees. Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner committed to accessibility and inclusive venue experience.
• John HollandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Construction company partnered with Kennards Hire for hydrogen generator trial on Sydney Water's Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre project. Successfully trialed 100kVA hydrogen generator with BESS for zero-emission construction site power.
• Sydney WatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Government utility company delivering Western Sydney water infrastructure. Partnered through John Holland project to trial hydrogen power solutions for construction sites as part of sustainability initiatives.
• Kennards Hire FoundationcoreOthers · 1 January 2018Established in 2018 by the Kennard family to formalize philanthropic activities. Vision: create a better future for Australians and New Zealanders by empowering disadvantaged young people and improving the environment through land and species conservation. Partners with 16 non-profit organisations providing funding, in-kind equipment support, and capacity building.
• The Smith FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner25+ year partnership supporting disadvantaged Australian children through Learning for Life program. 214+ Learning for Life students supported plus 43 tertiary students. Foundation provides scholarships, Digital Learning Essentials program support, and in-kind equipment for fundraising events.
• BackTrackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organization keeping kids alive, out of jail, and chasing hopes. Partnership since inception. $150,000+ in-kind donations plus 13 pieces of equipment in 2023. Supports Core Education, Works, and Tracker Network programs.
• KidsCan Charitable TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand non-profit supporting children affected by poverty with food, clothing, shoes, and health products. 2024 funding helps provide essentials for 550+ children across 5 Waikato/Bay of Plenty schools. Buddy School Program supports 100+ schools.
• Australian Wildlife ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest non-profit wildlife conservation organisation in Australia. Support for Waulinbakh Sanctuary near Stroud NSW protecting 170+ vertebrate species and 20+ threatened species including Koalas and Greater Gliders.
• Taronga Conservation Society AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organisation with Australia's largest conservation science team. Focus on Plains-wanderer conservation and breeding program at Western Plains Zoo. Previous support for Little Penguins, Rhino, Platypus, and Tasmanian Devil projects.
• Country Education FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of nearly 50 local foundations supporting rural and regional young people with education and career opportunities. Grassroots approach to unlocking pathways for rural youth.
• GanbinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's leading Indigenous school-to-work transition program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 6-25. Education, life skills, cultural appreciation, career guidance, and financial assistance.
• Melbourne Indigenous Transition SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMITS provides transition support for Indigenous students from remote NT communities. Partnership helped expand boarding program to 100 beds, establish Year 8 program, and help 13 students attend Year 12 in 2024.
• Bush Heritage AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation organisation protecting Australian landscapes by purchasing and managing land, partnering with Aboriginal communities to safeguard ecosystems for future generations.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Loxam: France-headquartered European equipment rental leader with a broad construction and industrial equipment range; similar multi-segment, branch-based rental model to Kennards at larger scale.
• Coates Hire: Australia's other major equipment rental company, directly competing with Kennards Hire in construction and industrial equipment hire across the same Australian geography with a similar branch-based model and product range.
• Herc Rentals: US-focused equipment rental provider (formerly Hertz Equipment Rental) offering general and specialty equipment across construction, industrial, and infrastructure segments — directly comparable in fleet composition and customer mix.
• Boels Rental: European equipment rental specialist operating 950+ locations with broad construction and industrial equipment offerings; comparable to Kennards on a smaller scale in a different geography.
• H&E Equipment Services: US-based heavy equipment rental company serving construction, industrial, and infrastructure customers with a branch-based model; comparable to Kennards in earthmoving, material handling, and aerial equipment rentals.
• Speedy Hire: UK equipment rental firm focused on construction, infrastructure, and industrial markets; comparable to Kennards on customer verticals, account-based commercial model, and specialist product categories.

Broad incumbents

• United Rentals: The world's largest equipment rental company, offering a comprehensive general-equipment and specialty rental portfolio across multiple geographies; comparable to Kennards in business model and product breadth but vastly larger scale.
• Ashtead Group (Sunbelt Rentals): UK-listed equipment rental group operating Sunbelt Rentals in the US/UK/Canada; competes across general construction and industrial rental categories similar to Kennards, with comparable specialty solutions and a multi-vertical customer base.
• The Cat Rental Store (Caterpillar): Caterpillar's dealer-based rental network offering earthmoving, material handling, and power generation equipment globally; comparable to Kennards' earthmoving, generators, and industrial equipment categories via a dealer/brand-affiliated model.

Regional players

• BrandSafway: North American specialty rental and access services provider focused on scaffolding, access equipment, and industrial services; comparable to Kennards' Access Equipment and lifting solutions specialty categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/kennardshire
• Facebookfacebook.com/KennardsHire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oscvitap
• Instagraminstagram.com/kennardshire

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Open Source Community : VIT-AP